Hostage Romi Gonen’s family marks her 24th birthday with event to ‘spread light’

Father Eitan describes his daughter, now in Hamas captivity for over 300 days, as ‘magical,’ says there is ‘no doubt’ she will return

The family of hostage Romi Gonen, now in Hamas captivity for over 300 days, was marking her 24th birthday Sunday with an event aimed at “spreading light.”

Gonen was kidnapped during the October 7 onslaught on southern Israel, in which Hamas terrorists killed some 1,200 people and seized 251 hostages.

Romi’s father Eitan told Channel 12 news that his daughter is “a magical girl. She’s all heart, all love…. a justice warrior.”

“It’s unbelievable that we’re marking this day without her,” he said.

Eitan went on to say that after much contemplation as to how to commemorate this special day, the family decided to hold a “day of good deeds, so that when Romi returns — and she will no doubt return — she will see the documentation [of the event] and be so happy.”